A New Future for Japan-Korea Relations

On June 22, Japan and South Korea celebrated the 50th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and South Korean President Park Geun-hye attended the ceremony held in Tokyo and Seoul, respectively. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe emphasized in his speech that Japan and South Korea share strategic interests.

South Korean President Park Geun-hye (right) and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Bali, Indonesia. (Photo: Kyodo)

Looking at the overall situation in Northeast Asia, strengthening bilateral cooperation between Japan and South Korea and between Japan, South Korea and the US will contribute to peace and stability in the two countries and the Asia-Pacific region.

Therefore, Mr. Shinzo Abe believes that the cooperation between the two countries on regional and world issues will be the connection to create the beginning of a new future.

South Korean President Park Geun-hye, at a similar ceremony in Seoul, also affirmed: “Japan and South Korea have taken the 50th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations as a turning point to move towards new cooperation and a brighter future together.” At the same time, when mentioning remaining historical issues, Ms. Park Geun-hye said that removing the heavy shackles of history and the past through reconciliation and cooperation is extremely important.

Previously, during the historic talks between the two countries' foreign ministers, many important issues were agreed upon to remove barriers towards improving bilateral relations, such as the registration of the Meiji relic complex of Japan as a world heritage site, strengthening high-level dialogue, and promoting the early summit between the two countries, which has been stalled for many years.

According to political analysts, with the above change in viewpoints of the two countries' governments, the relationship between the two countries will improve and will contribute to peace and stability in the region and the world./.

According to VOV.vn